As we stayed the winter at Resaca de la Palma, we had lots of opportunities to explore the many parks and playgrounds that Brownsville, Texas had on offer.
Dean Porter Park
Dean Porter Park, located across the street from the Gladys Porter Zoo, this sprawling facility is actually a collection of facilities. There are 2 playgrounds that we enjoyed, coming back to the pirate ship playground multiple times. The park also boasts a pool and splash pad, which were sadly closed for the season. Additionally, there was a playhouse theater, a children’s museum, and a “Fitness trail.” We didn’t explore the museum as it costs a bit of money and was closed Mondays (my day off from the pirate ship). However, the playgrounds were definitely worth the trip.
La Esperanza Park
La Esperanza Park was a bit of a surprise! We discovered this one when we attended a homeschool meetup event. The whole play area is shaded and is very expansive, with lots of sensory play as well as your standard slides and swings. The park also has a soccer field and a walking trail that we didn’t explore. It was quite a fun day, and hunger was the only force that finally peeled the kids away!
Gladys Porter Zoo
We’ve talked about the Gladys Porter Zoo in our posts about zoos. In the back next to their class spaces and botanical garden, there is a lovely little playground with an adjacent splash pad. Every time we visited, we stopped by and let the kids bleed off some extra energy.
Windwood Park
After a long day out, the kids were more than a little squirrely. We happened across this neighborhood playground on our way home. This playground was quiet, clean, and pretty modern. They had a rocking toy that I hadn’t seen before, kind of like a “boat at sea” rocker. The kids and I had a great time getting that table up to speed and trying to keep our balance.
Joe & Tony Oliveira Park
We actually visited this park not for the playground, but for something else entirely!
When you live in a bird sanctuary you hear things, sightings of rare birds mostly, but also really cool local phenomena! Joe and Tony Oliveira Park, in addition to being the home to the area’s girls’ kickball team, is also home to a massive, and I mean a MASSIVE flock of wild parrots! You could hear them for blocks. It was a treat to see them flit from tree to tree. Makes me sad that we only got to see them once.
